Ternstroemia gymnanthera plant named ‘Sotall’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Ternstroemia gymnanthera plant named &#34;Sotall&#39;, characterized by its uniformly dense, upright and oval growth habit, foliage size, and foliage color.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofTernstroemia, botanically known as Ternstroemia gymnanthera, and hereinreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Sotall’. This new Ternstroemia varietywas discovered by James Bryan Berry in October, 1995 as an openlypollinated seedling in a group of unnamed, unpatented Ternstroemiagymnanthera plants at Plant Development Services Inc. in Loxley, Ala.The value of this new cultivar lies in its uniformly dense, upright andoval growth habit, foliage size, and foliage color. The new variety hasretained many of the outstanding attributes of its parent species, inparticular its tolerance of insects and disease, which makes itadaptable to culture in the Sunbelt states.

Asexual propagation of the new plant by cuttings has been under Mr.Berry's direction at the same location. The new plant retains itsdistinctive characteristics and reproduces true to type in successivegenerations. The plant cannot be reproduced true from seed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Loxley, Ala.

1. A uniformly dense, upright and oval growth habit 12-14′ tall and 5-6′wide.

2. Attractive, large glossy green foliage.

3. Fast growth rate under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.

4. Easily trained into a small tree.

5. Good specimen plant.

6. Hardy to Zone 7.

7. Performs well in sun or shade.

8. Resistant to fungal leaf spot.

9. Resistant to insect pests, such as aphids and scale.

10. Very desirable in planters.

11. Makes a very good formal or informal hedge or screen.

12. Very good foundation plant for large buildings or corner plant forhomes.

13. Has the ability to be sheared and trimmed to be kept withinprescribed limits.

14. Easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer throughthe fall.

15. Withstands city conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new variety of Ternstroemia gymnanthera is illustrated by theaccompanying photographic prints in which:

1. The photograph at the top of the first sheet is a close-up showingthe foliage and stem color of the new variety in early fall.

2. The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet shows the uniformgrowth habit and foliage color of a group of young 7 gallon plants.

3. The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a side-by-sidephotograph, from left to right, of the patented variety Ternstroemiagymnanthera ‘Contherann’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,737 and the new varietyin mid-winter.

4. The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet shows the uniformlydense, upright and oval growth habit of a crop of ten gallon plants.

The colors shown are as true as is reasonably possible to obtain byconventional photographic procedures. Colors in the photographs mayappear different than actual colors due to light reflectance. The colorsof the various plant parts are defined with reference to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. Description of colors in ordinaryterms are presented where appropriate for clarity in meaning.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new variety ofTernstroemia based on my observations made of 3 year old plants grown in7 gallon containers in wholesale commercial production practices, ingreenhouses, and in established landscape plantings in Loxley, Ala.

Distinctive Characteristics Ternstroemia Ternstroemia g. ‘Contherann’gymnanthera U.S. Plant Pat. Ternstroemia Characteristic (The Species)No. 11,737 g. Scotall’ Height 8-10′ 10-12′ 12-14′ (Mature) Width(Mature) 5-6′ 6-7′ 5-6′ Leaf Length 2½-4″ 2¼-3″ 2½-3¼ Leaf Width ½-1½″¾-1⅛″ 1{fraction (3/16)}-1½″ Leaf Shape oblong to narrowly broadlylanceolate oblanceolate oblanceolate Leaf Color Yellow-Green Greyed-RedYellow-Green (immature) Group 146A Group 178A G. 146A Leaf Color GreenGroup Green Group Green Group (mature) 137A 137A 137A Leaf ColorGreyed-Orange Greyed-Purple Greyed-Orange (fall/Winter) G. 166A G. 187AG. 175C

Ternstroemia ‘Sotall’ can be compared to the patented plant Ternstroemia‘Contherann’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,737 and the species Ternstroemiagymnanthera, however, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Loxley,Ala., there are many differences. As indicated above, ‘Sotall’ has amore upright growth habit, and a more uniform foliage size, shape, andcolor. Ternstroemia ‘Sotall’ also differs from Ternstroemia gymnanthera‘Contherann’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,737 in that the younger foliage doesnot have the intense red and purple fall and winter color. In thenursery industry Ternstroemia gymnanthera is traditionally grown fromseed which results in a tremendous amount of variation.

The seed parent of ‘Sotall’ is an unpatented plant of TheaceaeTernstroemia gymnanthera. There is confusion in the nursery trade inthat what is called Cleyera japonica is actually Ternstroemiagymnanthera. Although similar, they differ in many ways. Cleyerajaponica has a larger leaf 3-6″ long and ¾-2″ wide with an accuminatetip compared to 2½-4″ long and ½-1½″ wide with an obtuse tip. Cleyerajaponica also has 25 stamens in one series unlike Ternstroemiagymnanthera which has nore than 25 stamens in two or more series.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Ternstroemia gymnanthera ‘Sotall’.

Parentage: Chance seedling of Ternstroemia gymnanthera.

Commercial: Broadleaf evergreen.

Form: Upright, dense, and globose.

Height: 12-14′.

Width: 5-6′.

Growth rate: Fast under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.Semi-hardwood cuttings taken in late summer through the fall producerooted cuttings in three to four months in Loxley, Ala. Root developmentis vigorous and finely branched. In a period of four years from a rootedcutting the plant reaches a height of 5 to 6 feet and a spread of 3 to 4feet. The plant normally grows at the rate of about 18 inches or moreper year and reaches a height of 14 feet and a spread of six feet atmaturity. A dense habit is maintained due to the abundant branchdevelopment.

Foliage: Alternate, simple, evergreen, leathery, glabrous, broadlyoblanceolate, 2½ to 3¼″ and 1{fraction (3/16)} to 1½″ wide, apex obtuse,base cuneate and margins are entire. Immature petioles are Yellow-GreenGroup 144A maturing to ⅛ to {fraction (3/16)}″ long and Greyed-PurpleGroup 185C. The upper surface of the immature leaf is Yellow-Green Group146A. The underside is Yellow-Green Group 146B and matte. The immatureupper surface midribs are Yellow-Green Group 144A and mature toYellow-Green Group 146D. The veins, other than the midrib, are generallynot visible on the upper surface or the underside of the leaf. The leafmatures to Green Group 137A upper surface and Yellow-Green Group 146C onthe underside. With the onset of cool weather in the fall, some of theimmature foliage darkens to Greyed-Orange Group 175C and the maturefoliage remains at Green Group 137A. There are occasional alternatefoliaceous stipules which are ¼ to ½″ long and {fraction (1/16)} to ⅛″wide. The upper surface is Yellow-Green Group 144A and the underside isYellow-Green Group 144B. The stipules are non-caducous.

In 1998, the date of initial spring growth was March 5, in Loxley, Ala.After the initial spring flush there was almost continuous growth untilfall ending October 27, also in Loxley, Ala. This growth pattern wasidentical to the parent species. When grown in full sun, the internodelength of this plant is ¼″ to ⅝″ which is similar to the parent species.When grown in light shade the internode length is ⅝″ to 1¼″ which isalso similar to the parent species. As would be expected, either plantgrown in the shade results in a taller, less dense plant with largerleaves.

The average length of terminal growth of the initial spring flush isabout 5 to 6″ for a plant in full sun and about 6 to 7″ when grown inshade. The length of each growth flush is 2 to 4″ longer than the growthflush of the parent species resulting in a larger plant more quickly.There are usually 4 to 6 flushes of growth per year under ideal growingconditions in Loxley, Ala. With each flush there is a 2 to 3½″ stemwhich produces only foliaceous stipules. The true leaves are clusteredat the end of each flush of growth with a whorled appearance. Each flushproduces 1 to 7 branches which is similar to the parent species. Verylittle trimming is needed to produce a dense 26″ tall and 22″ wide threegallon plant during the growing season. Ternstroemia gymnantheraseedlings grown under identical conditions were vey inconsistent invigor and color.

Although there are many variables involved, it should take about 8 to 10years for this plant to reach a mature height of 12 to 14′ and width of5 to 6′. In the landscape little or no pruning is necessary to produce adense, upright, and globose shrub in full sun. In shade, however, sometrimming may be needed to produce the same effect.

Stems: The young shoots are Yellow-Green Group 144A, glabrous, andmatte. The mature stems are Greyed-Green Group 197A, glabrous andrugose. The pith is solid and uniform.

Flowers: Axillary, solitary, bisexual, small, slightly fragrant,yellowish white and ½ to ¾″ across. The inconspicuous flowers areproduced from May to June on the previous year's wood or on shortcurrent season spurs. Buds are globular, Yellow-Green Group 145A, andwithout foliaceous appendages. Unbranched pedicels are ½ to ¾″ long,curved near the end, and also Yellow-Green Group 145A. There are 5sepals which are united at the base and 5 petals arranged regularly,united at the base, and imbricate in bud. There are 25 to 40 stamens in2 to 3 series, and the anthers are glabrous, apiculate, and basifixed.As the flower opens the petals are Yellow-Green Group 145C and thepollen is Yellow Group 2D. The blooms last on the plant in the garden 3to 6 days. A mature plant may have several hundred flowers.

Fruit: Indehiscent, berrylike, globose to ovoid, ½″ diameter, 1″ long;seeds usually 2-3 and Orange-Red Group 34A when mature. Immature fruitare Yellow-Green Group 146D maturing to Red Group 46B in late summer orearly fall.

Culture: Grows well in a wide range of conditions and tolerates sun toshade. Grows in nearly any soil type, from moist to dry and sand toclay. Very heavy clays should be amended with peat moss, compost, orshredded pine bark to improve the soil texture. Poorly drained locationsshould be avoided. Responds well to mulching and medium applications offertilizer; prefers ph 5 to 6.5. Very little pruning is needed, however,the plant can be sheared and maintained as a 5 to 6′ shrub or pruned upinto a small tree. Adaptable to containers and above ground planters.Propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer through the fall.

Pests: None observed to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and unique variety of Ternstroemia gymnanthera plantnamed ‘Sotall’ as herein shown and described.